Soil Pollution as a Result of Temporary Steel Scrap Storage at the Melt Shop

In this paper pollution of soil (5300 m2) used as temporarily steel scrap storage at the CMC Sisak Ltd. was investigated. Concentrations of heavy metals, namely Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in soil were determined after their extraction in aqua regia. Concentrations of heavy metals, except Hg, were measured by inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry. Concentration of Hg was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. For a number of years, steel scrap (raw material for steel production) was temporarily stored in the unprotected steel scrap yard area. To assess pollution level of soil under the scrap yard, comparison was done between levels of heavy metal concentrations in analysed samples and reference sample taken outside the factory ground with the levels representing tolerance for potentially unacceptable risk for industrially used soil according to the Croatian Soil Monitoring Programme. Levels were also compared with the values permitted by some EU member countries. Concentrations of heavy metals in all samples collected from the scrap yard showed higher values of heavy metals compared to the reference sample concentrations. Also, values are higher than those defined as potentially unacceptable risk for industrially used soil according to legislation of some EU member countries. Obtained results qualify analysed soil from the scrap yard as contaminated soil, caused by its use over a long time as a temporarily storage space of steel scrap on unprotected and roofless soil. In future, steel storage areas should be built in a way to prevent soil pollution.